Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners



Jan. 30, 1945. B. MEITNER 2,363,316

APPARATUS F'OR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed May 11, 1943 r 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 fnventdr 5 3265. ME/ T/VER Jan. 30, 1945 B, ME|TNER 2,368,316

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed May 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GZ.

lllllillllllllllillll||||llllllllllllllllllIlllllllilIHIIIIHIllIIIIIIHEIIHHIIIIIIIIIillll II II IHIII lllllllllll Illllllllll Inventor Bald NE/T/VER Attorney Jan. MElTNER APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed May 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invehto'r I: [a ME/T VER YWZZ Attorney Patented Jan. 30, 1945 APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE-MANUFAC- TURE or SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Bla Meitner, Whitchurch, England, assignor to Aero Zipp Fasteners Limited, London, England,

a British company Application May 11, 1943, Serial No. 486,541 In Great Britain May 28, 1942 28 Claims.

My invention relates to the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners, and more particularly to an apparatus for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a tape or other pliable carrier.

An object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive and practical apparatus of the above described type by means of which an automatic and quick attachment of the row of connected fastener members to the carrier may be achieved.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which the row of fastener members is attached to the pliable carrier in such a manner that the rounded part of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the connected row of fastener members is somewhat spaced apart from the top of the edge of the carrier, for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for attaching a row of fastener members made of cellulosic, synthetic resinous, or similar materials now commonly embraced by the term plastic material to a tape or similar pliable carrier.

It is still another object of my invention-to provide means for gluing a row of fastener members made of plastic material onto a pliable carrier while the row is attached to the carrier.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become'apparent from the sub-joined of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a part of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my first embodiment;

Fig. 5 illustrates a part of a strip forming a row:

of connected fastener members; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the attaching rollers of ,the embodiment shown in Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. 5, a U-shaped strip 11 forms a row of connected fastener members 30, the strip being bent along its centre line 3|.

of which are made of plastic materia it is already known to attach the strip l1 bodily to a tape or other pliable carrier, to secure subsequently the strip I! to the carrier, for example. by gluing in the case of members made of plastic material, or by clenching in the case of members made of metal, and afterwards separating the members from one another on the carrier, for example in the manner disclosed in the specification of my Patent No. 2,301,064, issued November 3, 1942, the strip being made by suitably punching it at equal distances, as disclosed for example in my copending patent application Serial No, 474,512, filed February 3, 1943, and issued September 26, 1944, as Patent No. 2,359,140, and bending the strip lengthwise along its longitudinal centre line 3| so as to assume a U-shape when viewed endwise. In a specific known method of making a sliding clasp fastener, the strip H is attached and secured to a thickened edge of the carrier in such a manner that the rounded part of the U-shaped strip is somewhat spaced apart from the top of the thickened edge of the tape, whereby when the fastener is completed and closed the coupling projection of a of the second carrier.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, two similar discs I and 2 are fixed side by side on a common shaft 3 suitably mounted on a frame 8 and adapted to be rotated by a belt 5 and a driving pulley 4 from any suitable drive, the centres of the discs I and 2 lying in the axis of the shaft 3. The discs are spaced apart a distance d (Fig. 3) which is approximately equal to or, preferably, somewhat greater than the thickness of a pliable carrier 6 having a thickened edge 1 to which the strip I1 is to be attached. Extending transversely to the axis of the shaft 3 is a guide I0 for the carrier 6, which guide consists of two adjacent rails I01 and 102 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance d between the two discs I and 2, the space between the rails being aligned with the space between the two discs I and 2. A similar and similarly arranged guide II is provided at the opposite side of the discs I and 2 relatively to the' shaft 3. A further disc 12 is fixed on a second shaft 13 resiliently mounted to the frame 8 and adapted to be rotated by the first shaft, but in opposite direction, by means of gear wheels I4 and I5 mounted on the shafts 3 and I3 respectively. The centre of the further disc 12 lies in the axis of the second shaft I3. The further disc I2 has a'circumferential U-shaped groove I 6, the width of which is equal or, preferably, slightly greater than the width of the U-shaped strip I1 forming the row of connected fastener members 30 (Fig. 5). As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the circumferences of the discs I and 2 are somewhat bevelled, the arrangement being such that the groove I6 of the further disc I2 forms a continuation of the space between the discs I and 2 and lies symmetrically to said space whereby a pathway is formed which narrows from the right hand side towards the line II-II in Fig. l, and widens beyond this line.

Above the guide I6 and inclined thereto, a tapering guide channel is provided, the narrow end of which extends into the region between the discs I and 2 and the further disc I2 so that it is substantially aligned with the space between the discs I and 2 and the groove I6 in the further disc I2. To the narrow end of the guide channel 20, a guide finger or needle 2! is attached, which is curved so as to assume a direction substantially tangential to the circumferences of the discs. and extends towards, or even into, the groove I6 of the'further disc I2. At least a portion of the tangential part of the needle 2| is slightly thicker than the interior distance between the straight parts of the U- shaped strip I1.

At the other side of the discs, an idle roller 22 is provided having a circumferential groove 23 similar to the groove I6 in the further disc I2.

the groove 23 in the roller 22 being aligned with the space in the guide I I. The idle roller 22 is carried by a lever 24 pivoted at 26 and urged towards the guide II by a spring anchored to the lever 24 and the frame, so that the roller 22 is urged by the spring 25 towards the uide II.

The apparatus operates as follows: The three discs I, 2 and I2 are rotated with constant speed from a drive (not shown) by means of the belt 5 and the driven pulley 4 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1. A length of a tape 6 having a thickened edge I is inserted in the guide I0 and shifted so far towards the discs that its leading end lies beyond the line IIII in Fig. 1, the thickened edge I resting on the upper edges of the guide II) and of the two first discs I and 2, which exert insufficient pressure on the tape 6 to move it. Subsequently, the strip II forming a row of connected fastener members is inserted in the guide channel 20 so that the leading end of the strip straddles the needle 2 I, the free end of which contacts the top of the thickened edge I of the tape 6. The strip I1 is pushed forward until it is gripped by the groove I6 in the further disc I2. The needle 2i provides for the-desired distance between the top of the edge I of the tape 6 and the rounded part of the strip ll. Since at least a portion of the tangential part of the needle is slightly thicker than the interior distance between the straight parts of the U- shaped strip, the straight parts are somewhat forced apart from each other while passing over the needle,- whereby the edge I of the tape 6 is enabled easily to slip between these parts. When the strip IT has left the needle 2I,-the straight parts, owing to the resiliency of the plastic material, tend to assume their original relative position, thus gripping the edge I of the tape 6 between them and attaching the leading end of the strip I! to the tape 6. The rounded part of the strip I6 is firmly pressed against the needle M owing to the spring action of the resilient mounting of the further disc l2. Thereby the needle 2i is in turn pressed against the top of the thickened edge I of the tape 6. The height of the groove I6 is such that the ends I10 and III of the straight parts of the strip H are pressed against the upper edges of the discs I and 2 (see Fig. 3). Owing to the friction between the groove I6 of the further disc I2 and the rounded part of the strip I'i, and the friction between the ends I10 and III and the upper edges of the discs I and 2, the rotating discs I, 2 and I2 move the strip I1, and therewith the tape 6, towards the other guide II, the strip H as it passes through the groove I6 of the further disc I2 being continuously attached to the tape 6. The idle roller 22 presses against the top of the strip I7 and prevents the tape 6 from slipping out of the guide II. When the rear end of the strip IT has passed the groove I6 in the further disc I2 the tape 6 comes to rest and is removed from the other guide. The apparatus is now ready for receiving the next length of tape and strip of fastener members.

The tape may be impregnated with an adhesive to glue the members permanently to the tape while they are being attached. Alternatively, after the row of members has been attached to the tape, the assembly may be treated in any known manner to secure the members permanently to the tape.

Instead of inserting single lengths of tape into the apparatus, a continuous tape may be fed thereto. It is not necessary for the discs I 2 and I2 to be positively rotated with constant speed, but these discs may be idle. In this case, after the tape, or a length of tape 6, and a strip I'I have been inserted in to the apparatus and the strip has been pushed into the groove I6 so far that its leading end is attached to the tape, the tape is manually pulled through the apparatus carrying the strip with it and thereby rotating the discs I, 2 and I2.

A second embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 and '7 of the accompanying drawings. In this embodi ment, two inclined guide rollers 40 and M are mounted on, and rotatable by, shafts 42 and 43 respectively which are journalled toa frame 49 of the apparatus. The rims of the rollers are raised towards their outer edges. Above the roll ers 4!] and 4i, a guide rail 44 is provided, the arrangement being such that the inclined rollers 40 and M together with the guide rail 44 form a guideway for the U-shaped strip II forming a row of connected fastener members.

Attaching rollers are provided at a suitable distance from the rollers 40 and 4|. The attaching rollers comprise a first set of inclined rotatable discs 45 and 46, mounted on, and rotatable by, shafts 58 and 59 respectively, and a further set of inclined rotatable discs 41 and 48 mounted 0:1 shafts 52 and 53 respectively. The distance between the discs 45 and 46 at their lowermost points is equal or, preferably, slightly larger than the thickness of the tape 50, the arrangement being such that a part of the tape 50 can be accommodated between thediscs 45 and '46 with the thickened edge SI of the tape 50 exposed. The further rotatable discs 41 and 48 have a shape similar to that of the rollers 40 and M. The

discs 47 and 48 are adapted to embrace the exposed edge 5I of the tape 56 and to provide a space around the exposed edge 5I for accommodating a part of the U-shaped strip IT. The

.which the strip I1 is made.

width between the raised outer edges of the rim of the discs 41 and 48 is equal to or, preferably slightly greater than the width of the U-shaped strip l1. A suitably shaped needle 54 extends towards. or even into, the pathway formed by the discs 45, 46, 41 and 48. which pathway is first narrowing from the right to the left hand side in Fig. 6 and then widening again.

A tank 55 comprising a roller 56 is provided at a side of the apparatus enabling the tape 50 to be 'passed through the tank from a spool (not shown) to the attaching rollers, the tape being turned through an angle of 90" by an idle roller 60.

Two further pair of rotatable inclined guide rollers 6|, 62 and 63, 64 respectively are provided. each pair being similar to the pair of guide rollers 40 and 4|. The rollers El. 62. 63. 64 are mounted on rotatable shafts. The distance between the two further pairs of guide rollers is greater than the distance of the rear end of a row of connected fastener members attached to the tape 50 from the leadin end of the next succeeding row of connected fastener members.

but smaller than the length of a row of such members.

Two tensioning rollers 10 and 1| are mounted on vertical shafts 12 and 13 respectively, each roller being recessed at 14.

The apparatus operates as follows: Th guide rollers 40, 4|, 6|, 62, 63 and 64; the attaching rollers 45, 46, 41 and 48: and the tensioning rollers 10 and 1| are rotated with constant speed.

The distance between the uppermost points of the guide rollers is equal to, or very slightly smaller than the outer width of the strip |1 so that the strip H can be gripped between a pair of guide rollers. the direction of rotation of the guide rollers being such that the strip l1 when gripped is shifted from the right to the left hand side of Fig. 6. A tape 50 is inserted in the apparatus in the manner illustrated. and is drawn from a spool (not shown) from the right to the left towards the tensioning rollers 10 and 1 on the shafts 12 and 13. The tape 50 after leaving the spool is first immersed in the tank 55.by means of the roller 56. the tank 55 being filled with a suitable liquid adhesive or with a solution adapted to dissolve the plastic material of The tape is then turned through 90" by the roller 60, passes the discs 45 and 46 with its thickened edge 5| ex posed and directed downwards. A length of a strip l1 forming a row of connected fastener members is inserted manually or automatically into the guideway formed by the guide roller 49 and 4| and the guide rail 44 and is guided towards the attaching rollers owing to the friction between the rotating roller and 4| and the strip IT. The U-shaped strip I1 is so inserted that its concave side is directed upwards. When the strip l1 reaches the needle 54 it straddles it and similarly as described with reference to the first embodiment the straight parts of the U- shaped strip H are somewhat forced apart from each other, while passing over the needle. The strip I1 is gripped by the further discs 41 and 48 and the tape 5|] enters between the straight parts of the strip H. The strip I1 is thereby attached to the tape 50 by the further discs 41 and 48 in a manner corresponding to that described with reference to the first embodiment of my invention. When the leading end of the first length of strip I1 is attached to the tape 50, the tape and strip are bodily moved by the attaching rollers ill towards the left hand side of Fig. 6. The strip I1 is glued onto the tape 50 by the adhesive liquid or the dissolving solution with which the tape was previously impregnated when passin through the tank 55. The lengths of strips [1 are fed tothe guide rollers 40 and 4| at such intervals that the rear end of one length of a strip I1 when attached to the tape has a desired distance from the leading end of the succeding length, thus leaving a blank space on the tape between succeeding rows of fastener members.

After leaving the attaching rollers 45, 46, 41 and 48, the row of connected fastener members reaches the guide rollers 6|, 62 and subsequently the guide rollers 63 and 64, the distance between the uppermost points of the guide rollers BI and 62 and that between the uppermost points of the guide rollers 63 and 64 being such that the strip I1 is firmly pressed around the thickened edge 5| of the tape 50. Owing to the friction between these two pairs of guide rollers and the strip, the strip and thereby the tape are transported by the pairs of guide rollers towards the left hand side of Fig. 6. The distance D between the two' pairs of guide rollers is so chosen as to ensure that at least one pair of guide rollers positively transports a row of fastener member and thereby the tape, even if a blank space on the tape passes through the other pair of guide rollers. The recesses 14 provided at the lower ends of the rollers 10 and 1| have such a width that the rows of fastener members are not gripped by these rollers but pass freely'therethrough while the upper parts of the tensioning rollers 10 and 1| grip the tape. The tensioning rollers are ro tated with a circumferential speed which is somewhat greater than that of the guide rollers so as to keep the tape slightly tensioned while passing through the apparatus. After leaving the apparatus the tape may be cut at its blank spaces in any known manner to provide for separated lengths of fastener stringers.

It should be clearly understood that the term row of connected fastener members employed in this specification and in the claims is intended to include what may be termed a row of con nected embryo fastener members, that is to say a row of connected elements which require subsequent shaping or other treatment to obtain the final fastener members.

While I have shown and described hereinbebefore two specific embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it should be clearly understood that these embodiments are given only for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

T claim:

1.. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising first rotatable means adapted to accommodate a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed. further rotatable means cooperating with said first means and adapted to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the exposed edge for accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of connccted fastener members to the carrier, and means provided between said first and further means for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip.

2. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising first rotatable means adapted to accommodate a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further rotatable means cooperating with said first means and adapted to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the exposed edge for accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members to the carrier, and means for urging said first and said further means against each other.

3. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising two similar rotatable first discs spaced apart a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further rotatable disc having a circumferential substantially U shaped groove forming a continuation of the space between said first discs for embracing the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of con nected fastener members, and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and a tapering guide channel, the narrow end of which extends into the region between said first and further rotatable discs and is; substantially aligned with the space between the said first discs and the groove in the said further disc for guiding the U-shaped strip to the space and groove.

4. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising two similar rotatable first discs spaced apart a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further rotatable disc having a circumferential substantially U-shaped groove forming a continuation of the space between said first discs for embracing the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, a tapering guide channel, the narrow end of which extends into the region between said first and further rotatable discs and is substantially aligned with the space between the said first discs and the groove in the said further disc for guiding the lJ-shaped strip to the space and groove, and a guide finger attached to the narrow end of said guide channel, said guide finger being curved so as to assume a direction substantially tangential to the comprising two similar rotatable first discs spaced apart a distance to accommodate a por tion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed. a further rotatable disc having a circumferential substantially U-shaped groove forming a continuation of the space between said first discs for embracing the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, a tapering guide channel, the narrow end of which extends into the region between said first and further rotatable discs and is substantially aligned with the space between the said first discs and the groove in the said further disc for guiding the U-shaped strip to the space and groove, and a guide finger attached to the narrow end of said guide channel, said guide finger being curved so as to assume a direction substantially tangential to the circumferences of said first discs and said further disc and extending towards the groove in said further disc for spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U- shaped strip, at least a portion of the tangential part of said guide finger being thicker than the interior distance between the straight parts of the substantially U-shaped strip to force the straight parts somewhat apart from each other while passing over said guide finger to enable the carrier to slip easily between these parts.

6. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of slidin clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising a first set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other which are at the region of the smallest distance between the discs so spaced as to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, and a further set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other, the two sets being so arranged that the region of smallest distance between the discs of said first set is adjacent the region of smallest distance between the discs of said further set, the discs of said further set being, at

the region of the smallest distance, so spaced" and arranged as to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier and to accommodate a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and to locate said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs.

7. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising a first set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other which are at the region of the smallest distance between the discs so spaced as to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other, the two sets being so arranged that the region of smallest distance between the discs of said first set is adjacent the region of smallest distance between the discs of said further set, the discs of said further set being, at the region of the smallest distance so spaced and arranged as to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier and to accommodate a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and to locate said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for b progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and means provided between said two sets of discs for spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip.

8. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising a first set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other which are at the region of the smallest distance between the discs so spaced as to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an! edge of the carrier exposed, a further set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other, the two sets being so arranged that the region of smallest distance between the discs 1 of said first set is adjacent the region of smallest distance between the discs of said further set the discs of said further set being, at the region of the smallest distance, so spaced and arranged I as to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier. and to accommodate a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of con-' nected fastener members and to locate said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and a guide finger provided between said two sets of discs, said guide finger being curved so as to assume a direction substantially tangential to the circumferences of the discs and extending towards the space between the said two sets of discs for spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U- shaped strip.

9. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising a first set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other which are at the region of the smallest distance between the discs so spaced as to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other, the two sets being so arranged that the region of smallest distance between the discs of said first set is adjacent the region of smallest distance between the discs of said further set, the discs of said further set being, at the region of the smallest distance, so spaced and arranged as to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier and to accommodate a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and to locate said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of 65 the discs, and a guide finger provided between said two sets of discs, said guide finger being curved so as to assume a direction substantially tangential to the circumferences of the discs and extending towards the space between the said two sets of discs for spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U- shaped strip, at least a portion of the'tangential part of said guide finger being thicker than the interior distance between the straight parts of the substantially U-shaped strip to force the straight parts somewhat apart from each other while passing over said guide finger to enable the carrier to slip easily between these parts.

10. .Apparatus for use in th manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising two similar rotatable first discs inclined relatively to each other which are spaced a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further set of two similar rotatable discs inclined relatively to each other, the said two sets being so arranged that the region of the smallest distance between the discs of said first set is adjacent the region of the smallest distance between the discs of said further set, the discs of said further set being, at the region of the smallest distance so spaced and arranged as to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier and to accommodate a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip formin the row .of connected fastener members and to locate said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and means for tensioning the carrier while the row of fastener members is attached to the carrier.

11. An apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising a container for a liquid enabling plastic material to be glued to the carrier, means for passing the carrier through said container to moisten the carrier at least in part with the liquid as it passes through said container, and means for. bringing the moistened part of the carrier subsequently into intimate contact with the row of connected fastener members to glue the members onto the car- Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and comprising a container for a liquid enabling plastic material to be glued to the carrier, and means for passing the carrier through said container to moisten the carrier at least in part'with the liquid as it passes through said container before it reaches the two sets of discs.

13. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further means for embracing at least a part of the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge for accommodating at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener member and locating the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of th carrier, and means within the said space around the embraced part of the edge for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, at least one of the said portions and the means accommodating the other of said portions being displaceable relatively to eachother in ,the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

14. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, rotatable means provided with a. substantially U- shaped groove adapted to embrace at least a part of the exposed edge so as to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge and further adapted to accommodate in the space at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and to locate the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, and means within the said space around the embraced part of the'edge for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, the said rotatable means being displaceable, when rotated, relatively to the carrier for progressively attaching the row ofconnected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

15. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising means forming a narrowing pathway adapted to accommodate, at its wider part, a por-- tion of an edge of the carrier and, separated therefrom but adjacent thereto, a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and to accommodate, at its narrower part, a portion of the edge of the carrier surrounded by a portion of the strip, and means within said pathway for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, said means forming the pathway and the carrier being adapted to be displaced relatively to each other for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

16. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further means for embracing at least a part of the exposededge of the carrier to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge for accommodating at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, and means within the said space around the embraced part of the edge adapted to enter between the top of the edge of the carrier and the rounded part of the U- shaped strip for positively spacing the top of said edge from the said part of the U-shaped strip, at least one of the said portions and the mean accommodating the other of said portions being displaceable relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attaching the row of-connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

17. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further means for embracing at least a part of the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge for accommodating at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, and means for forcing the straight parts of the U-shaped strip somewhat apart from each other against the inherent resiliency of the strip to enable the edge of the carrier to slip easily between the said parts, at least one of the said portions and the means accommodating the other of said portions being displaceable relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

18. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of con nected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, rotatable means provided with a substantially U-shaped groove adapted to embrace at least a part of the exposed edge so as to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge and further adapted to accommodate in the space at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip formin the row of connected fastener members and to locate the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, and means for forcing the straight parts of the U-shaped strip somewhat apart from each other against the inherent resiliency of the strip to enable the edge of the carrier to slip easily between the said parts, the said rotatable means being displaceable, when rotated, relatively to the carrier for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

19. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising means forming a narrowing pathway adapted to accommodate, at its wider part, a portion of an edge of the carrier and, separated therefrom but adjacent thereto, a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and to accommodate, at its narrower part, a portion of the edge of the carrier surrounded by a portion of the strip, and means for forcing the straight parts of the U-shaped strip somewhat apart from each other against the inherent resiliency of the strip before the strip enters the narrowest part of the pathway to enable the edge of the carrier to slip easily between the said straight parts, said means forming the pathway and the carrier being adapted to be displaced relatively to each other for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier.

20. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising first rotatable means adapted to accommodate a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further rotatable means cooperating with said first means and adapted to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the exposed edge for accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip formin the row of connected fastener members and locating asid pornected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising first rotatable means adapted to accommodate a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further rotatable means cooperating with said first means and adapted to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the exposed edge for accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members to the carrier, and a finger at least the tip of which extends between said first and further means for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip and at least a portion of which finger is of greater width than the width between the straight parts of the U-shaped strip to force the straight parts somewhat apart from each other against th inherent resiliency of the strip when it slides over said finger to enable the carrier to slip easily between the said parts of the strip.

22. Apparatu for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising first rotatable means adapted to accommodate a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed, further rotatable mean cooperating with said first means and adapted to embrace the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the exposed edge for accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge for progressively attaching the row apart a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further rotatable disc cooperating with said first discs, said further disc having a circum ferential substantially U-shaped groove forming a continuation of the space between said first discs for embracing the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener member to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and means for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip.

24. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members toa pliable carrier comprising two similar rotatable first discs spaced apart a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further rotatable disccooperating with said first discs, said further disc having a circumferential substantially U-shaped groove forming a continuation of the space between said first disc for embracing the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members, and locating said portion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and a guide finger extending toward the groove in said further disc for spacing the topof the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip. i

25. Apparatus, for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fastenersfor attaching a row of connected fastener members to a pliable carrier comprising -two similar rotatable first discs spaced apart a distance to accommodate a portion of the carrier between them with an edge of the carrier exposed, a further rotatable disc cooperating with said first discs, said further disc having a circumferential substantially U-shaped groove forming a continuation of the space betweerrsaid first discs for embracingv the exposed edge of the carrier, accommodating a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip formin the row of connected fastener members, and locating said per tion of the strip around the exposed edge, for progressively attaching the row of fastener members to the carrier on rotation of the discs, and a guide finger extending towards the groove in said further disc for spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, at least a portion of said guide finger being thicker than the interiorv distance between the straight parts of the substantially U-shaped strip.

around the said embraced part of the edge, for

accommodating at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, at least one of the said portions and the means accommodating the other of said portions being displaceable relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier, and means for tensionin the carrier while the row of fastener members is attached to the carrier, said tensioning mean comprising two rollers rotatable in opposite directions and arranged so as to draw the carrier between them by friction, the circumferential speed of said two rollers being somewhat greater than the speed with which, in operation, the carrier is passed through the apparatus.

27. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connected fastener members made of plastic material to a pliable carrier comprising means for accommodating at least a portion of the carriermeans within the said space around the embraced part of the edge for positively spacing the top of the edge of'the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, at least one of the said portions and the means accommodating the other of said portions being displaceable relatively to each other in *the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attachin th row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier; a container for a'liquid enabling plastic materialto be glued to-the carrier, and means for passing the carrier through said container to moisten the carrier at least in part with the liquid as it passes through said container before it reaches the said accommodating and embracing means.

28. Apparatus for use in the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners for attaching a row of connectedfastener members to a pliable carrier comprlsingmeans for accommodating at least a portion of the carrier with an edge thereof exposed. further means for embracing at least a.

part of the exposed edge of the carrier to provide a space around the said embraced part of the edge, for accommodating at least a portion of a substantially U-shaped strip forming the row of connected fastener members and locating the said portion of the strip around the said part of the embraced edge of the carrier, at least one of the said portions and the means accommodating the other of the said portions being displaceable relatively to each other in the longitudinal direction of said one portion for progressively attaching the row of connected fastener members around the edge of the carrier, means for positively spacing the top of the edge of the carrier from the rounded part of the U-shaped strip, and means for tensioning the carrier while the row of fastener members is attached to the carrier.

BELA MEITNER. 

